Seal-lock



(Mode L) 2 sheetssheet 1.

' -A.WAR'RB'N.*- SEAL LOOK. Y No.284,519. Patented Sept. 4, I883.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

-(Model.)

A. WARREN.

SEALLOGK'J Patented Sept; 4, 1883.

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- i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- ANDREW WARREN, or sr. Louis, MIssoURI.

SEAL-LOCK.

srncrrrcifrioiv forming part of Letters ILate nt 4N0. 284,519, dated September 4, 188,3. Application'filed February {20, 1883. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, ANDREW WARREN, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain,iresidi ing at-.St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful .Improvements in Seal-Locks or Gar-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

My invention relates to that class 'of seallocks which are specially adapted for freightcars; and it consists of certain changes in the structure of the several parts comprising the lock patented to me February 13, 1883, N 0. 272,360, to which reference may be had, and I will now proceed. to describe said improve= 'ments, so that any person skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may make, construct, and use the same.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a per spective view of the lock or fastening closed,

but without the padlock or seals applied.

Fig. '2 is aplan view with the top easing removed, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the drop-bolt detached.

Like reference-letters indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The device like that in the patent above referred to consists, essentially, of five parts,

viz: the back casing, the front casing, the

drop-bolt, the latch, and the bracket which supports the latter; a

.A is the back part of the frame or casing. B is the front portion of the same. 0 is the drop-bolt. D is .the latch or shackle, and E the bracket supporting the latch.

The .frame, as already indicated, consists of 3 two parts, which are secured to each other and l to the ear or other object by bolts a a, as shown, which are passed through suitable apr.

i 0 ertures at each end of the frame, the holes or apertures in the two parts being made to coincide. The back part, A, of the frame or casing is provided, with end flanges, A A, within which the front part of the casing or frame fits, and it has a reduced central. portion to receive the: droprbolt, and as this reduced part is longer than the bolt the latter is capable of vertical movement therein. The

part Ahas also a central slot,A"1, to receive a corresponding 1 flange or ribvon the back of the bolt, and forms abearing therefor to prevent lateral movement At the. upper end of the part A are outwardly-projecting side flanges, which extend slightly below the upper end of the drop-bolt when in its lowest position, thus forming, when all the parts of the device are assembled, a fastening with practically closed sides, which will effectively exclude dirt, snow, and ice. The ,part Ais also provided at its lower end with a project ing lug or flange, a, which forms a guard for the end of the latch, or a dog may be pivoted support the latch. The front or face B of the casing consists of a flat plate having two outthereto, if desired, as in myformer patent, to

weirdly-projecting flanges, covered their en- 'tire length to exclude dirt, ice. 850.,- and these flanges are longer than the rib on the face of the drop-bolt and form a recess in the back of the plate, in which the rib of the bolt is adapted to slide up and down;

A transverse hole, I), is provided through the boxed flanges,

and it extends into the surface of the part B for the padlock. This hole for the hasp of the padlock is made at a point just'above the upper end of the drop-bolt when it is in its lowest position, so that the said hasp will be above the bolt instead of through it. Smaller holes extending; transversely through the flanged part only are provided for the seals, The covered flanges are left open at the bottom to allow a bolt orlug on the'lower end of the drop-bolt to project below for a purpose that will be presently described.

The drop-bolt G is also a flat 'plate, the lower portion of which is of the same width as the front and back parts of the frame or casing; but the upper part is contracted or made narrower, so as to slide within the flanges A A as plainly shown in Fig. 2. It

is of such length that when locked its lower end will rest upon, or nearly upon, the top of the latch, and it is'provided on its back face with a central rib or flange, O, which is adapted to slide 'in the slot A of the back part of the bolt is also provided with a central rib on its front face, which, instead of being perforated, as in my patent before referred to, for the passage of the padlock-hasp and seals, carries frame or casing, as already explained. The

the lugs O C 0 leaving openings or' spaces between them which register with the trans 2o seals and padlock.

the drop-bolt project into the recess formed stead of through an aperture on the rib. At

the lower end of the face-rib on this plate 0, I provide a bolt or lug, O, which has seal hole or holes 0, and this lug projects through the open lower end of the boxed flanged portion Io of the front plate, B, as shown inFig. 1. Itis evident, as this bolt or slide-piece is inclosed within the frame or casing, that it cannot be. lost, and as it rests on the ends of slots in the frame or case, andwith its lower end upon or I 5 near to the latch, it will be readily apparent that with the seals or lock in place it cannot be disengaged to release the latch, but always holds it down in position, so that it cannot be re moved from the frame without removing the The lugs on the face of by the covered lugs on the front of the frame or casing.

The latch or shackle D consists of a bar pro- 2 5 vided with thecatch D which projects downwardly, and after being passed through the recessed portion of the casing, near its lower end, engages with the outside of the casing, as shown. It is provided at its opposite end with the handle D, by means of which the latch may not only be operated, but at the same time-it, is to be used for opening or closing the door of a car. Adjacent to the handle or loop I provide the slot D with enlarged 3 5 ends, for the purpose, in connection with the flat-sided bolt E on the bracket E, of locking the car-door partly open for ventilation, as will be hereinafter explained. I also construct the latch with a lug, D adjacent to the o casing, to prevent the door being jammed shut by any sudden concussion. I prefer the form of slot shown in the drawings; but I do not wish to confine myself to this particular configuration, as it is evident that other forms 4 5 would accomplish the same purpose,'the only prerequisite being that the bolt, lug, or hub on the bracket should have a corresponding form.

The bracket E, which supports the latch, is a substantially right-angled plate, having projecting bolt-lugs on each of its arms, which are provided with apertures e and e, for the passage of suitable bolts, by means of which it is secured to the car-door in the proper position to support the latch or shackle D. The lower 5 5 lug, E, has its upper surface triangular, so that any extraneous matter will fall off and not clog the latch. The lug or hub E in the present instance is projected from a circle, but hastwo of its opposite sides cut away, its greatest di-v ameter being approximately the same as the larger end portions of the slot D and its smaller diameter a-little less than that of the narrow part of the slot, so thatby turning the latch one-quarter of a revolution it may, be

-, adjusted to. one end or the other of the slot.

.The entire surface of the. bracket E is corrugated to prevent the accumulation of dirt, &c.

The sides of one or both of the plates composing the frame or casing may be formed with their inside edges slightly rounded or recessed, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, so as to more readily admit the front end of the latch or shackle.

The operation of my invention is as follows, viz: The drop-bolt is seated in its flange in the back part of the frame or casing, the front or face-plate is applied, and the parts thus assembled are secured to a proper part of the car by bolts at the top and bottom. The bracket which supports the latch is secured to the car-door by suitable bolts, as shown, so that the latch will be supported in a horizontal position, and that the catch on its forward end will engage with the outer part of the case when it is pushed home under the drop-bolt. The handle on the latch is used for this purpose; The

slots in the frame and the ribs or flanges on the tents of the car are such that some ventilation is necessary, and to provide for this I have constructed the latch with a slot with enlarged ends and the supporting-bracket with a correspondingly-shaped hub. The length of the slot in the latch will determine the distance the door may be opened, and it may be made longer or shorter, as desired. WVhen air is to be admitted to the car, the latch is'released, if not already open, and after being turned a quarter of a revolution, as before explained, it is pushed to its most advanced position, or so that the hub will rest in that part of the slot nearest the handle, after which the latch is engaged with the casing, as before, and locked, leaving thedoor open a distance equal to the length of the slot, and holding itfirmly and securelyin that position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure, by Letters Patent, is"

1. In a seal-lock or car-fastener, the latch or shackle having a slot with enlarged ends in its shank adjacent to the handle, in combination with the supporting -bracket provided with a flattened hub or lug, so that the sliding door of a car may be locked when wholly closed or when slightly open for ventilation, substantially as described.

2. In a seal-lock or car-fastener, the latch or shackle having means, substantially as described, for moving it longitudinally and look ing it in two positions, and a stop adjacent to the lock case or frame, so that when the sliding door of a car is locked partly open it cannot be forced shut by sudden concussion, substantiallyas set forth.

IIO

3. In a seal-lock or car-fastener, the frame or easing comprising the two parts A and B, the part A being formed with top and side flanges, and the part B adapted tocoincidewith said flanges, in combination with a dropbolt adapted to operate between said side flanges and form, whenthe parts are assembled, a easing with practically closed sides, substantially as set forth.

plate, B, the drop-bolt O, with openings for the seals, the latch or shackle D, having a slot with enlarged ends and suitable handle, and the 15 bracket F, with triangular support and flattened hub, all constructed and adapted to operate substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix 'my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW WARREN.

4. A seal-lock consisting 'of the frame or cas- Witnesses: ing comprising the flanged back plate, A, (1R. GREENE, the flanged and transversely-perforated front G. D. GREENE, J r. 

